Towheeblog

Our spring birding class had its first field trip this morning.  Had some good sightings even though the rain washed us out  by 11 AM.  Three swallow species, all spring arrivals.  Orange-crowned Warblers among the Yellow-rumps at Wennerberg.  First year Bald Eagle over Westside Road.  Cooper’s Hawk at Rotary Park where we rendezvoused.  Sure signs of spring: song from White-crowned Sparrow, numerous robins, Bewick’s Wren.  Lingering waterfowl at Yamhill Sewer Ponds: Shoveler, Bufflehead Lesser Scaup, large flock of Cackling Geese.

In two hours of birding we had over thirty species despite the impending deluge.

Above one of at least three fresh robin nests we saw at Wennerberg, each solidly built with an engineering flat top edge.  None had an incubating robin… yet.  Then three of the V8let-green Swallows feeding at Yamhill Sewer Ponds.  As the rain grew heavier some of them chose to rest rather than fly wet.

Rotary Park (Tice Park), Yamhill, Oregon, US
Apr 13, 2019.  3 species

Cooper’s Hawk  1–calling in flight
American Robin  X
European Starling  X

Westside Road, Yamhill County, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Apr 13, 2019. 4 species

Bald Eagle  1     first year bird
American Crow  X
European Starling  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  X

Wennerberg Park, Carlton, OR, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Apr 13, 2019.  17 species

Northern Shoveler  2     fly over
Eurasian Collared-Dove  X
Mourning Dove  X
Anna’s Hummingbird  1
Red-breasted Sapsucker  2     mated pair flying around together from tree to tree
Acorn Woodpecker  X
Tree Swallow  1
Bushtit  2
Bewick’s Wren  1     singing
American Robin  X
European Starling  X
House Finch  8
Dark-eyed Junco  X
Song Sparrow  1
Orange-crowned Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  8     all Myrtles as far as we could see
House Sparrow  X

Hwy 47, North Yamhill County, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Apr 13, 2019. 2 species

Red-tailed Hawk  1
European Starling  X

Yamhill Sewage Ponds (restricted access), Yamhill, Oregon, US
Apr 13, 2019.  Comments:     rained out
17 species

Cackling Goose  300
Canada Goose  20
Wood Duck  2
Northern Shoveler  2
Mallard  X
Lesser Scaup  10
Bufflehead  5
Eurasian Collared-Dove  X
Anna’s Hummingbird  1
Killdeer  1
California Scrub-Jay  2
Violet-green Swallow  20
Barn Swallow  6
American Robin  X
European Starling  X
White-crowned Sparrow  1     singing
Red-winged Blackbird  X